Ruler



(No Model.)

W. J. WRIGHT.

N. PETERS, PMwL'lllmgnphor, Wzshinglon. uc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM J. \VRIGHT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

R U L E R SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,144,dated July 16, 1889.

Application filed March 16, 1889. Serial No. 303,610. (No model.)

To all 2071,0127, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. WEIGHT, of the city and county of SanFrancisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Rulers;and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention relates to the class of rulers; and my invention consistsin a ruler having its upper back surface formed with a longi tudinalgroove, serving as a finger-hold, its lower surface or base formed witha groove, leaving narrow bearing-edges, 011 which the ruler rests, and around ruling-surface on its front projecting over its base.

The object of my invention is to provide a ruler having the stability ofa flat or angular ruler, its ruling-edge possessing the advantages of around ruler, the said ruler being readily movable, and with cleanliness,and being accurately and easily held in place without having theholding-hand interfere with the pen.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my invention, Figure 1 is a cross-section of my ruler. Fig. 2 is aperspective View showing its use.

The ruler is composedof a piece so cut and fashioned as to make in itsupper back portion a groove a and on its upper front portion a roundedruling-surface a, which projects over the base of the ruler. The loweror under side of the ruler is grooved out, as shown at (1?, and saidgroove has a width suf iicient to leave but two narrow edges (0, uponwhich the ruler rest-s. The upper groove a furnishes a finger-hold, bywhich the ruler may be held steady and Without danger of having the handso holding itinterfere with the ruling operation. The groove also allowsthe holding-hand sufficient grip to effect the easy and accuratemovement of the ruler from one position to another. The movement of theruler is an easy one, requiring but little force. This is due to thereduction of the frictional bearingsurface of the ruler to the twonarrow lines or edges, provided for by grooving out its base or lowersurface, as shown. The movement is effected without marring the paper orblotting it. The rounded front portion a of the ruler provides for aperfect ruling-surface, being similar in its advantages to a roundruler, accurate and clean; but my ruler, 011 account of its shape, isfree from the disadvantage of a round ruler, the tendency of which toeasily change position by rolling is well known.

I am aware that flat rulers have been made with a rounded guiding orruling edge, and I do not claim such broadly; but

That I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A ruler formed with a groove on its upper back portion, serving as afinger-hold, a groove in its base or under surface, forming narrowbearing-edges on which the ruler rests, and a round ruling portion onits front projecting over its base, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

\VILLIAM J. WRIGHT. Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, II. 0. LEE.

